Domingue To Start For Coyotes at Montreal

Louis Domingue is prepared to replace injured Mike Smith

Louis Domingue will start in goal for the Coyotes for Thursday's game at Montreal in place of injured Mike Smith.

"We're in the day-to-day range right now," Head Coach Dave Tippett said after Wednesday's practice. "(Smith) had some tests done today and we're awaiting the results of those. But he 's up and around, moving, so that's a positive sign, but we'll wait until we get the tests back (to react)."

Domingue took over for Smith last season when the former left the team to have mid-season core surgery. Domingue played 39 games and finished the season with a 15-18-5 record, a 2.75 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage to establish himself in the NHL and to earn the backup job for this season.

"He's done this before," Tippett said of Domingue. "He's a veteran of jumping in and being the lead guy for a team when a goaltender goes down … He came in and played really well last year and we expect the same from him this year. He's matured as a player and as a person. He's done it before, there's no reason to believe he can't do it again."

Domingue relieved Smith on Tuesday night in Ottawa when Smith suffered a lower-body injury while twisting in the crease trying to get into position to make a save. He allowed three goals on 11 shots in Ottawa's 7-4 win.

"It's definitely not the plan having Mike down, but when someone goes down the guys have to step up, and I'm just one of them," Domingue said.

Domingue is from Montreal and he made his first NHL start at the Bell Centre on Feb. 1, 2015. He allowed two goals in the first period that day, but none after that and the Coyotes beat the Canadiens 3-2. He's eager to play in his hometown again on Thursday, and he's prepared to start again on Friday at the New York Islanders if needed.

"It's the start of the year, I'm fresh, I'm ready to go," Domingue said. "I know what I'm getting into right now. It's just about giving confidence to the team that we can go into any given game and win the game."

The Coyotes recalled goalie Justin Peters from the American Hockey League on Wednesday on an emergency basis. He likely will serve as Domingue's backup on Thursday and perhaps beyond if Smith can't play for a while.